Echinacea plant named ‘IFECSSMIN’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘IFECSSMIN’, characterized by its relatively compact and upright to broadly upright plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; strong flowering stems; numerous single-type inflorescences with orange-colored ray florets and red-colored receptacle spines; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Echinacea hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘IFECSSMIN’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Innoflora Plant Breeding B.V. of Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands on Nov. 24, 2022, application number 2022/2657. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant, botanically known as Echinacea hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘IFECSSMIN’.

The new Echinacea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new vigorous and freely flowering Echinacea plants with large inflorescences with unique and attractive ray floret coloration.

The new Echinacea plant originated from an open-pollination in July, 2019 in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Echinacea hybrida identified as code number 009-18-K057-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown proprietary selection of Echinacea hybrida, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Echinacea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands in August, 2020.

Asexual reproduction of the new Echinacea plant by in vitro meristem culture in a controlled environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands since September, 2020 has shown that the unique features of this new Echinacea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Echinacea have been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘IFECSSMIN’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘IFECSSMIN’ as a new and distinct Echinacea plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact and upright to broadly upright plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Strong flowering stems.     -   5. Numerous single-type inflorescences with orange-colored ray         florets and red-colored receptacle spines.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Echinacea differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea are more compact than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Echinacea have stronger and healthier         foliage than plants the female parent selection.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Echinacea have about four         whorls of ray florets whereas inflorescences of plants of the         female parent selection have two whorls of ray florets.     -   4. Ray florets of plants of the new Echinacea are orange in         color whereas ray florets of plants of the female parent         selection are yellow in color.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of Echinacea spp. ‘TNECHPS’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 33,778. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Echinacea differ primarily from plants of ‘TNECHPS’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea are shorter and broader than         plants of ‘TNECHPS’.     -   2. Plants of the new Echinacea are more freely branching than         plants of ‘TNECHPS’.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Echinacea have about four         whorls of ray florets whereas inflorescences of plants of         ‘TNECHPS’ have two whorls of ray florets.

Plants of the new Echinacea can also be compared to plants of Echinacea purpurea ‘Prima Tiger’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Echinacea differ primarily from plants of ‘Prima Tiger’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea are broader than plants of ‘Prima         Tiger’.     -   2. Plants of the new Echinacea are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Prima Tiger’.     -   3. Plants of the new Echinacea are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Prima Tiger’.     -   4. Inflorescences of plants of the new Echinacea have about four         whorls of ray florets whereas inflorescences of plants of ‘Prima         Tiger’ have a single whorl of ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Echinacea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Echinacea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘IFECSSMIN’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the left of the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘IFECSSMIN’.

The photograph at the right of the second sheet (FIG. 3 ) is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘IFECSSMIN’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 19-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typically used in commercial Echinacea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18 C to 34 C and night temperatures ranged from 8 C to 18 C. Plants were 16 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea hybrida ‘IFECSSMIN’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Echinacea hybrida             identified as code number 009-18-K057-01, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Unknown proprietary selection of Echinacea             hybrida, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at             temperatures about 20 C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 16 days at             temperatures about 20 C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 36 days             at temperatures about 18 C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 42 days             at temperatures about 18 C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial;             relatively compact and upright to broadly upright plant             habit; obovate in overall shape; freely basal branching             habit with about eleven primary lateral branches and about             ten secondary lateral branches developing per plant;             moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate             growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 45.3 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 44 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 22.3 cm. Diameter: About             6 mm. Internode length: About 2.7 cm. Aspect: Erect to about             15 degrees from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Moderately pubescent; strigose. Color: Close to N144A; few             blotches, close to 144A and 144B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Basal and cauline leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple.             Length: About 9.4 cm. Width: About 3.3 cm. Shape: Narrowly             ovate. Apex: Narrowly acute. Base: Short attenuate. Margin:             Mostly entire; occasionally with a few shallow and irregular             indentations to irregularly shallow and broadly dentate;             slightly and coarsely undulate. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Sparsely to moderately pubescent,             strigose and rough; slightly glossy. Venation pattern:             Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to             NN137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A.             Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A to             slightly darker than NN137A; venation, close to 144B. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to a blend of 137C and             147B; venation, close to 146D.         -   Petioles, basal and cauline leaves.—Length: About 4.6 cm.             Diameter: About 2 mm by 2.5 mm. Texture, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Sparsely             pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to NN137A; midvein,             close to 145A tinged proximally with close to 178A. Color,             lower surface: Close to 137B; midvein, close to N144C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Single-type inflorescences with ray and disc             florets arranged on a capitulum; inflorescences positioned             upright above the foliar plane on mostly upright and strong             peduncles.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 21             developing and fully developed inflorescences per plant.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly to moderately fragrant; sweet and             pleasant.         -   Time to flower.—Plants flower continuously from late June             into late September in The Netherlands.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about three weeks on the plant; inflorescences             persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About             2.8 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate with a flattened top. Color:             Immature involucral bracts, close to 143A and 143B; immature             ray florets, close to N25C; immature receptacle spines,             close to 152A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 10 cm. Depth (height):             About 4.3 cm. Disc diameter: About 3.2 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.             Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 155C.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 64 to 78             arranged in about four whorls at the base of the receptacle.             Length: About 4.6 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm. Shape:             Oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic; slightly carinate. Apex:             Emarginate to praemorse. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Aspect: About 10             degrees from horizontal; with development, apices curled             slightly downward. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to a blend of N25A and N25B. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 37A and 37B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to             N25A and towards the base, close to 34A; venation, similar             to lamina color; color becoming closer to N170B and towards             the base, close to 176D, with subsequent development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 54C; venation, close to 54C;             color becoming closer to 54C and 182D with apices, close to             146D, with subsequent development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 240 per             inflorescence, arranged spirally at the center of the             inflorescence. Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Tubular; proximal 12.5% free, not fused. Apex: Acute.             Base: Fused. Margin, free-part: Entire. Texture and luster,             inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Apex:             Close to 180A. Mid-section: Close to 148A and 148B. Base:             Close to 144C. Color, fully opened, inner and outer             surfaces: Apex: Close to 180A. Mid-section: Close to 148B.             Base: Close to 144C.         -   Receptacle spines.—Quantity: One per disc floret; about 240             per inflorescence. Shape: Acicular. Apex: Acute. Base:             Attenuate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color: Apex: Close to N34B with tip, close to N34A.             Mid-section: Close to 143A to 143B. Base: Close to 145D.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 100             arranged in about four whorls. Length: About 1.15 cm. Width:             About 3 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate; horizontal to slightly             reflexed. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous; margins, sparsely to moderately pubescent;             moderately glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             138A; margins, close to NN137A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 15.8 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 cm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Sparsely             pubescent; strigose. Color: Close to 146D with blotches,             close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium (present on ray and disc             florets): Quantity per floret: Five. Filament length: About             4 mm. Filament color: Close to 150D. Anther length: About             3.5 mm. Anther shape: Linear. Anther color: Close to 200A.             Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 17A.             Gynoecium (present only on disc florets): Quantity per             floret: One. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Stigma shape:             Decurrent, unequal. Stigma color: Close to 185A. Style             length: About 5.5 mm. Style color: Close to 145C to 145D.             Ovary color: Close to 157C. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed             and fruit development have not been observed on plants of             the new Echinacea. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Echinacea     have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Echinacea plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Echinacea have exhibited good     garden performance and to tolerate rain and wind. Plants of the new     Echinacea have been observed to tolerate high temperatures of about     35 C and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 4. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Echinacea plant named ‘IFECSSMIN’ as illustrated and described. 